JPH09290537A - Color printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and securely allow grasping a color arrangement image by color-printing test printing data, which are printing data with a reduced size when a test printing is designated in an apparatus comprising a test printing designating means. SOLUTION: A color designating key 102C, a color setting key 102A and a test printing designating key 102E are provided in a key board inputting portion. The color designating key 102C is provided with 102R, 102K, 102G, 102B, 102P, 102D, and 102W for designating red, yellow, green, blue, purple, black and white. On the other hand, the color setting key 102A is provided with a character color designating key 102X for switching to a mode for designating the character color, a background color designating key 102Y for switching to a mode for designating the background color, and a color designation determining key 102Z for determining the designated color. In the case a test printing is instructed by the test printing designating key 102E, test printing data, which are printing data with a reduced size can be color-printed.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing device for printing input print data. More specifically, the present invention relates to a technique for confirming a color designation result when the printing device is capable of color printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When it is desired to perform color printing, it is convenient to be able to confirm the specified print color on a color display screen, etc. The image when printed on is often different. Therefore, generally, in a personal computer, a word processor, or the like, so-called color matching is used to eliminate the deviation between the image displayed on the color display screen and the image actually printed.

[0003]

However, for example, a small print called a label printer or a label word processor for printing on the surface of a tape-shaped recording medium having an adhesive layer covered with a release paper on the back surface. Since a monochrome display screen is generally used in the device in order to keep the price low, the specified color cannot be visually recognized on the display screen. Even if a color display screen is provided, providing a function such as color matching has a problem in terms of price. That is,
Usually, for color matching, a conversion table for adjusting the color shift and complicated processing using the conversion table are required, but this requires a huge memory capacity. Not suitable for downsizing and price reduction.
In addition, the processing time becomes enormous and it does not match the reaction speed desired by the user.

On the other hand, there is a strong demand for various color printing even in a small printing device such as a label printer. In the case of a small color printing device, printing is performed in a desired printing color in accordance with this. In addition, the trial printing is repeatedly performed, and the designated contents of the color cannot be corrected until the desired color arrangement image is obtained. Therefore, in the conventional small-sized color printing apparatus, there are problems that a large amount of recording medium is wasted and that trial printing takes time.

[0005] In view of the above problems, an object of the present invention is to provide:
It is an object of the present invention to provide a color printing apparatus capable of easily and surely grasping a color arrangement image at the time of actual printing and thereby saving a recording medium and time required for trial printing for obtaining a desired color arrangement.

[0006]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a color printing apparatus according to claim 1 of the present invention comprises a print data input means for inputting print data and specifying the color thereof, and the color specification. A print color of the print data based on the print color, the color print means for color printing the print data based on the print color, and the test print for instructing the color print means to perform the test print based on the print color. A color printing apparatus comprising: an instruction unit, wherein the color printing unit performs color printing of the trial print data obtained by reducing the print data when the trial printing is instructed.

In this color printing apparatus, the trial printing can be performed based on the printing color determined by the color designation, so that the color arrangement image at the time of actual printing can be easily and surely grasped. Further, in the trial printing, the trial printing data in which the printing data is reduced is printed, so that the printing time is shorter than that in the case of printing as it is.
The number of wasted recording media is small. In this case,
In order to save the printing time and recording medium required for test printing, you may print the test print data by shortening the interval of the character part of the print data, or in addition, test by reducing the character part of the print data. A method of printing print data is also conceivable. Also, the entire print data may be reduced.
Further, when the recording medium is in the form of a tape, a method of shortening only the length direction can be considered.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color printing apparatus, in which print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, and a print color of the print data based on the color designation are determined. A color printing device comprising: a color printing unit for printing the print data in color based on the print data; and a test printing instruction unit for instructing the color printing unit to perform test printing based on the printing color. The means is characterized in that, when the test printing is instructed, the test print data obtained by converting the character portions of the print data into simplified symbols of the same color is color printed.

Here, the simplified symbol is treated as a symbol even in a general word processor or the like, "○""◇""□""△" ...
This is a concept including figures such as, and if a symbol such as □ is used, it is easy to distinguish the print color even if it is small. That is,
In this color printing device, since the character portion of the print data is converted into simplified symbols and test printing is performed, it is easier to distinguish colors than to print normal characters, and it is easier to make subtle color adjustments accordingly. The time required for test printing can be shortened. Further, for example, by using a symbol such as a vertically long square, it is possible to shorten the printing length, which makes it possible to further shorten the printing time and reduce the waste of the recording medium.

In the color printing apparatus of the second aspect, it is preferable that the color printing unit reduces the test print data and prints in color.

In this color printing apparatus, since the test print data in which the character portion of the print data is converted into the simplified symbol is reduced, it is possible to further reduce the print data by the simplified amount as compared with the reduction of the print data as it is. As a result, the printing time can be further shortened and the recording medium to be wasted can be further reduced. For example, if a symbol such as □ is used, the print color can be easily discriminated even if it is small, and the test printing can be performed by reducing the size accordingly.

In the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the print data input means uses the character color of a character portion of the print data as the color designation.
It is preferable that the background color of the background portion can be designated independently of each other.

In this color printing device, not only the character color but also the background color can be specified. Therefore, in addition to the advantages of the color printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, the color of various vivid color arrangements can be obtained. Can print. Further, in adjusting the color including the character color and the background color by the conventional test printing, the waste of the recording medium and time for the test printing is likely to be further increased. The advantage of the reduced printing is further emphasized.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color printing apparatus, wherein print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof and a print color of the print data are determined based on the color designation, and the print color is selected. A color printing apparatus comprising: a color printing unit for printing the print data in color based on the print data; and a test printing instruction unit for instructing the color printing unit to test print a color sample of the printing color. The color printing means prints the color sample in color when the trial printing of the color sample is instructed.

In this color printing apparatus, the state of the printing color actually printed can be grasped by performing the test printing of the color sample of the printing color determined based on the color designation. In this case, since only the color sample of the printing color is printed, the time required for the test printing can be shortened and the recording medium to be wasted can be reduced.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a color printing apparatus, in which print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, and a print color of the print data is determined based on the color designation, and the print color is selected. A color printing unit for color-printing the print data based on the print data; and a test printing instruction unit for instructing the color printing unit to test-print a color sample in which a plurality of print color candidates are arranged. The color printing device is characterized in that the color printing means prints the color sample in color when the trial printing of the color sample is instructed.

In this color printing apparatus, the state of the printing color actually printed can be grasped by performing the trial printing of the color sample which is the candidate of the printing color. This allows
It is not necessary to repeat the trial printing for obtaining the desired color arrangement image many times, and as a result, the time required for the trial printing can be shortened and the recording medium to be wasted can be reduced.

In the color printing apparatus of claim 6, the print data input means has a plurality of color designation keys for designating the color, and the color printing means is instructed to perform trial printing of the color sample. At this time, it is preferable that the plurality of colors of the color sample are color-printed by attaching an identifier corresponding to the color designation key.

Since this color printing apparatus has a plurality of color designating keys and prints a color sample of a color that is a candidate for a printing color with the identifier of the corresponding color designating key, printing is performed. While confirming, the color can be easily designated with the color designation key, which can shorten the time for color adjustment.

In the color printing apparatus of claim 6 or 7, it is preferable that the plurality of colors are arranged in the color sample in an order along a hue circle.

In this color printing apparatus, each color of the color sample is printed in the order along the hue circle at the time of trial printing of the color sample, which is a guideline for indicating the direction of adjusting the color arrangement and the hue. As a result, the desired color arrangement image can be brought closer to the image, and the recording medium and time required for trial printing can be further saved.

In the color printing apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, when the plurality of color designation keys are operated, the color printing means sets the intermediate color of each color designated by each operated color designation key to the print color. Can be determined as
preferable.

In this color printing apparatus, by operating a plurality of color designation keys, not only the colors that can be designated when each color designation key is operated independently, but also the intermediate colors can be used as the printing colors. . Further, when performing trial printing of each color of the color sample that is a candidate for the print color in the order along the hue circle, in addition to the colors that can be directly designated by the respective color designation keys, the intermediate color is also printed in the order of the hue circle. In this case, by printing the identifier of the color designation key on the color that can be designated directly, it is possible to easily visually recognize even the intermediate color which is the print color when operating the arbitrary plurality of color designation keys. it can. This makes it easier to adjust the color arrangement and hue, and as a result, it is possible to further save the recording medium and time required for the trial printing.

A color printer according to a tenth aspect of the invention is the color printer according to the first aspect.
In the color printing apparatus according to any one of items 1 to 9, the printing object is a tape-shaped recording medium.

In this color printing apparatus, the object to be printed is a tape-shaped recording medium, so that, for example, a label or the like is produced while maintaining the same advantages as those of the color printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 9. Can be applied as a color printing device for tape printing.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Each embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Overall Structure) The ink jet printer of this embodiment is provided with a tape cartridge mounting portion in which a tape-shaped recording medium is stored in a rolled-up state, and a tape fed from the tape cartridge mounted here. This is a type in which color printing is performed on a flat recording medium using an inkjet head. In particular, the printer of this example
This type is called a label printer, a label word processor, or the like that prints on the surface of a tape-shaped recording medium having an adhesive layer covered with a release paper on the back side.

FIG. 1 shows an ink jet printer 1 of this example.
The external appearance of (color printing apparatus) is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 1 has a main body casing 101 having a thin rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole, and a front half of the upper surface thereof serves as a keyboard input unit 102. Various keys including a print button 103 and a power button 104 for instructing a printing operation are arranged on the keyboard input unit 102.

In the keyboard input section 102, in addition to keys for inputting print data such as character information to be printed, as shown in FIG. 2, a color for designating a color when print data is printed. A designation key 102C and a color setting key 102A are included. The color designation key 102C includes a red designation key 102R for designating a red color, a yellow designation key 102K for designating a yellow color, and a green designation key 102 similarly.
This includes G, blue designation key 102B, purple designation key 102P, black designation key 102D, and white designation key 102W.

In this example, the background color and the character color can be designated as the colors for printing the print data, and the color setting key 102A is used to switch to the mode for designating the character color. Character color designation key 10
2X, a background color designation key 102Y for switching to a mode for designating a background color, and a color designation confirmation key 102Z for confirming the designated color. The keyboard input unit 102 also includes a trial print instruction key 102E for instructing trial printing, which will be described later.

Further, in this example, as can be seen from FIG.
A liquid crystal display unit 17 for displaying character information and the like input through the keys of the keyboard input unit 102 is arranged on the rear side of the upper surface of the casing 101.

On the other hand, the rear end surface 1 of the main body casing 101
01a has a tape outlet 10 at the center position on the upper end side.
1b is formed, and the tape-shaped recording medium (hereinafter abbreviated as “tape”) T after printing is ejected to the outside through this. An opening / closing lid 105 is attached to the lower side of the discharge port 101b. This lid 1
When 05 is opened, the mounting portion 4 of the tape cartridge 3 described later is formed. Therefore, the tape cartridge 3 can be replaced by opening the lid 105.
At the center of the upper surface of the main casing 101, an opening / closing lid 106 for replacing an ink cartridge 8 described later is arranged.

Inside the main body casing 101, a power source unit, a battery such as a nickel cadmium battery, and the like (not shown) are mounted in the front portion where the keyboard input section 102 is located. Further, the printer unit 2 shown in FIG. 3 is configured in the rear portion.

(Drive Mechanism Unit of Printer 2) FIG. 3
As shown in, the printer unit 2 of this example prints on the cartridge mounting unit 4 in which the tape cartridge 3 as the supply source of the tape T is removably mounted, and the tape T fed from the cartridge 3 mounted here. An inkjet head 7 for performing the above, an ink cartridge 8 that is detachably mounted to supply ink to the inkjet head 7, and a carriage 9 that reciprocates the inkjet head 7 in the width direction of the tape T. . An ink cartridge mounting portion 901 for detachably mounting the ink cartridge 8 is formed on the carriage 9. Further, a head cap mechanism 11 is provided which closes the ink nozzles of the inkjet head 7 and performs a cleaning process and the like by a pump motor 111 (see FIG. 6) as necessary.

Explaining each part in detail, the drive mechanism unit 2 is a base 21 for mounting the above-mentioned respective parts.
The base 21 is formed with a right side wall 22 and a left side wall 23 which are vertically raised. Right side wall 22
A motor mounting plate (not shown) extends horizontally in the upper part of the carriage, and a carriage motor (hereinafter abbreviated as "CR motor") 91 is mounted on the motor mounting plate. This CR
The output shaft of the motor 91 extends downward, and a pulley 92 is fixed to the lower end of the output shaft. On the opposite side of the left side wall 23, a tension pulley (not shown) is rotatably supported at the tip of a tension lever 93 supported on the base. A timing belt 95 is stretched between these pulleys in a constant tension.
The timing belt 95 is connected to the upper side of the carriage 9 on which the inkjet head 7 is mounted. The lower side of the carriage 9 is movably supported in the axial direction by a carriage guide shaft 97 spanning between the left and right side walls 22 and 23.

The drive mechanism of the carriage 9 is constructed as described above, and by driving the CR motor 91,
The carriage 9 connected to the timing belt 95 reciprocates linearly in the width direction of the tape T. Therefore,
The inkjet head 7 mounted there moves linearly in the width direction. Therefore, by driving the inkjet head 7 in synchronism with this movement, desired printing can be formed on the surface of the transported tape T.

The ink cartridge 8 detachably mounted on the ink cartridge mounting portion 901 of the carriage 9 includes, for example, three ink tanks 83 (83-1, 8).
3-2, 83-3), and yellow,
Cyan and magenta inks are stored. Therefore, the ink jet head 7 also has ink nozzles (not shown) corresponding to each color.

(Ink Supply Mechanism Between Inkjet Head 7 and Ink Cartridge 8) FIG. 4 shows only the inkjet head 7 mounted on the carriage 9 and the ink cartridge 8 connected to the back side of the inkjet head 7. It is taken out and shown.

The ink jet head 7 is provided with a rectangular parallelepiped head case 701, the front wall portion of which is a head body 702 formed by a semiconductor manufacturing technique, and a large number of ink nozzles (see FIG. (Not shown) are formed, and ink droplets are ejected from these nozzles. A connection portion 703 connected to the ink cartridge 8 side is formed on the back surface side of the head case 701. The connecting portion 703 has a concave portion 705 surrounded by a peripheral wall 704 that is curved in a semicircular shape on both left and right sides, and an ink introducing portion for introducing each color ink into the ink jet head is provided on the bottom surface of the concave portion 705. The constituting needle-like protrusions 706 (706-1, 706-2, 706-3) are projected. A cylindrical ink filter cartridge 707 is detachably attached to the outer periphery of each needle-like protrusion 706.

On the other hand, on the ink cartridge 8 side, three vertically long ink tanks 83 (83-1,
83-2, 83-3) are laterally connected. Circular ink supply ports 831 are opened below the front wall of the ink cartridge 8. When the ink supply port 831 is inserted into the recess 705 on the side of the inkjet head 7, the ink filter cartridge 707 mounted on the three needle-like protrusions 706 protruding from the recess 705 is inserted into the ink tank from the ink supply port 831. It is inserted inside 83. In this state,
The ink of each color stored in each ink tank 83
The ink is supplied to the inkjet head 7 side via the ink filter cartridge 707 inserted into the ink supply port 831 and the needle-like protrusion 706 inside thereof.

The head case 701 of the ink jet head 7 is formed with mounting portions 708 on the left and right sides for attaching to the carriage 9, and these portions are fixed to the side of the carriage 9 by screwing or the like. . Further, as shown by an imaginary line, a flexible cable 709 for wiring is arranged inside the head case 701 through a slit 701a opened on the back surface thereof.
In the head case 701, the cable 709 is connected to the main body of the inkjet head 7 on the front side, and the other end side is connected to the drive circuit (see FIG. 6) side of the inkjet head 7 (not shown). This cable 70
The inkjet head 7 is electrically driven via 9 to perform an ink ejection operation.

(Tape Cartridge 3 and Its Mounting Part 4) The structures of the tape cartridge 3 and its mounting part 4 of this example will be described. FIG. 5 shows a sectional structure of the tape cartridge 3. The tape cartridge 3 of this example has a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped cartridge case 31, and in this internal space 32, a tape roll 33 around which the tape T is wound is arranged at the center. The middle part of the front wall 34 of the cartridge case 31 in the vertical direction is arranged to face the ink nozzles of the inkjet head 7 in the mounted state.

This front wall portion 34A defines a guide member for defining the printing position of the ink jet head 7 (in the following,
It is simply called "paper guide". ), And the tape T is transported along this surface. The upper guide wall 35 is provided above and below the front wall portion 34A at regular intervals from the surface thereof.
Also, the lower guide wall 36 is formed integrally with the cartridge case 31, and a conveyance path for the recording medium is defined between these and the front wall portion 34A. The opening 35A between the upper and lower guide walls 35 and 36 is a printing opening for allowing ink droplets ejected from the inkjet head 7 side to pass to the tape T side.

Below the front wall 34, a feeding port 37 for feeding the tape T is formed. A pair of left and right tape pressing rollers 38 are arranged inside the feeding port 37. These rollers 38 are pressed toward the delivery port 37 by a leaf spring 41 attached inside the case 31. Further, these rollers 38 are supported on the case 31 side in such a state that they can be pushed inward from the feeding port 37 by a certain distance against the spring force of the leaf spring 41. In the initial state, the tip of the tape T is held by being held by the spring force between the edge of the feeding port 37 and the outer peripheral surface of the roller 38.

On the other hand, the case front wall portion 34A which functions as a paper guide has an ink recovery window 42 on its left and right sides. Inside the case front wall portion 34A, the case inner wall 43
The waste ink collecting section 44 is partitioned and formed, and the ink absorbing material 45 is filled therein. A part of the ink absorbing material 45 is exposed from the pair of recovery windows 42 to the inkjet head 7 side.

Next, in the tape cartridge 3 of this example, the following structure is adopted so that the feeding and feeding operations of the tape T can always be performed in an appropriate state.
That is, the entrainment prevention guide plates 46 are attached to the outsides of the pressing rollers 38 arranged on the left and right of the tape feeding port 37, respectively. The entrainment prevention guide plate 46 is a plastic thin plate, and the upper end side thereof is fixed to the lower end surface of the front wall portion 34A, and the delivery port 37 is provided.
And the pressing roller 38 is closed, and extends downward. Then, the lower end side thereof is curved toward the inside of the cartridge case so as not to interfere with the tape T fed from the feeding port 37.

Further, in the tape cartridge 3 of this example, the guide auxiliary plate 4 is provided inside the lower guide wall 36 formed in the lower portion of the front wall portion 34A which functions as a paper guide.
7 is attached. The lower end side of the guide auxiliary plate 47 spreads away from the wall wall portion 34A, and gradually approaches the front wall portion 34A side toward the upper end side.
By disposing such a guide assist plate 47, the tape T fed from the tape cartridge 3 is reliably guided toward the printing position.

At least two positioning pins (not shown) are attached to the lower side of the front wall of the mounting portion 4 on the printer main body side on which the tape cartridge 3 having the above-mentioned configuration is mounted. Therefore, the mounting position of the tape cartridge 3 is regulated. A feed roller 61 is arranged above these pins. The feed roller 61 is rotatably provided between the left and right side walls 22 and 23.

On the other hand, the tape T transport mechanism of the present example including the feed roller 61 has a paper feed motor (hereinafter referred to as "PF motor") 62 mounted on the left side wall 23 of the drive mechanism unit and its output. A reduction gear train 63 that transmits to the feed roller 61 is provided. The reduction gear train 63 is rotatably supported on the outer surface of the left side wall 23. The tape T transported by the feed roller 61 is transported upward along the paper guide defined by the front wall portion 34A of the tape cartridge 3, and is moved by the inkjet head 7 at the middle printing position of the front wall portion 34A. Printing is performed. The portion of the tape T after printing is conveyed along a conveying passage between the front wall portion 34A and the upper guide wall 35, and is conveyed by a pair of guide plates 54 and 55 extending obliquely rearward from the upper end thereof. After passing through the passage, the tape is ejected from the tape ejection opening 101b opened on the rear side of the main body case by the ejection roller 56.

(Structure of Control System) The basic structure of the control system in the ink jet printer 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. The control system basically includes a control unit 200, a keyboard input unit 102, a printer drive circuit 280, and a liquid crystal drive circuit 290.

Keyboard input section (print data input means)
As described above with reference to FIG. 2, reference numeral 102 denotes print data such as characters and symbols, as well as a color designation key 102C and a color setting key 102A.
Key input, the color designation data of the character color and the background color as the printing color when printing the print data is input to the control unit 200, and the test print instruction key 102E
The test print instruction is input to the control unit 200 by pressing the key.

Further, the printer drive circuit 280 is a head drive circuit 28 for driving the ink head 7 of the printer section 2.
1 and a motor drive circuit 282 that drives the CR motor 91, the PF motor 62, and the pump motor 111, and controls each unit in the printer unit 2 according to the instruction based on a control signal output from the control unit 200. Similarly,
The liquid crystal drive circuit 290 controls the liquid crystal display unit (display means) 17 according to an instruction from the control unit 200.

The control unit 200 includes a one-chip microcomputer (hereinafter referred to as "CPU") 210, a ROM 22.
0, static RAM 230, dynamic RAM 2
40, an input interface 250, and an output interface 260, which are connected to each other by an internal bus 270.

The ROM 220 includes a color conversion table 22 which will be described later in addition to a control program processed by the CPU 210.
1. Character decoration table 222, font table 223
Etc. are remembered. The static RAM 230 is used as a work area for control processing, such as storing the data input from the keyboard input unit 102 as text data. This static RAM 230 is
Even if the power is turned off by the operation of the power button 104, the backup circuit (not shown) keeps the power supplied so as to retain the stored data.
The dynamic RAM 240 is the keyboard input unit 102.
Is a buffer for temporarily storing the results input from the printer as print data and display data, and includes a display buffer 241, a color conversion buffer 242, and a dot development buffer 2.
Besides 43, various conversion buffers 244 and the like are included.

The input interface 250 is connected to the keyboard input section 102, and the keyboard input section 1
02 is a circuit for fetching the input data from the internal bus 270, and the output interface 260 is a CPU
Data or control signals output from the 210 or the like to the internal bus 270 are transferred to the printer drive circuit 280 or the liquid crystal drive circuit 290.
Circuit.

Then, the CPU 210 having the above-mentioned configuration, according to the control program in the ROM 220, inputs the keyboard input unit 102 via the input interface 250.
Print data, color specification data, etc. input from
Static RAM 230 and dynamic RAM 240
Of the inkjet printer 1 by processing the data and the like and outputting a control signal to the printer drive circuit 280 and the liquid crystal drive circuit 290 via the output interface 260 so that color printing is performed on the tape T under predetermined printing conditions.
You are in control.

(Color Designating Method) Next, a method of designating the print color of the print data in the ink jet printer 1 of this example will be described below. In order to carry out this designation method, in this example, the color conversion table 221 for converting into the print color data based on the color designation data from the keyboard input unit 102 is stored in the ROM 220. The color conversion table 221 includes color mixing data corresponding to the hue circle shown in FIG. 7 and a brightness conversion table for changing the brightness.

In the ink jet printer 1 of this example, by referring to the color conversion table 221, when a plurality of color designating keys 102C are operated, the respective colors corresponding to the operated keys are mixed according to the hue circle. Then, the intermediate color between them is obtained and determined as the color when printing the print data. Further, when the white designation key 102W or the black designation key 102D is operated together with the other color designation keys 102C, the brightness of the color when printing the print data is changed.

The print color determination process by the print color designation method of this example will be described below with reference to FIG. As shown in the figure, one of the color setting keys 102A, that is, the character color designation key 102X and the background color designation key 102 is displayed.
When either Y or the color designation confirming key 102Z is keyed in, the print color determination process (S1) is activated by a color setting interrupt or the like.

When the print color determination process (S1) is started,
First, it is determined whether or not the character color designation key 102X (S1
1) When the character color designation key 102X is pressed (S11: Yes), the mode for designating the character color is set (S12). If it is not the character color designation key 102X (S11: No), then the background color designation key 1
It is determined whether or not it is 02Y (S13), and the background color designation key 1
When 02Y is keyed in (S13: Yes),
Next, the mode for designating the background color is set (S14).
Hereinafter, a series of processes from the activation by the above-described color designating interrupt or the like will be referred to as “color designation mode setting” (corresponding to ST11 in FIG. 8), and detailed internal processes will be omitted.

Upon completion of the color designation mode setting (ST11), it is next determined whether or not the color designation determination key 102Z has been input (S15), and the color designation determination key 102Z has not been input (S15: No). Until it is entered (S
15: Wait until it becomes Yes).

Here, for example, print color determination processing (S1)
Is activated by the input of the color designation confirmation key 102Z (such as an interrupt generated by the key input of the color designation confirmation key 102Z), it is determined that the input has been made (S1).
5: Yes), so that the next processing is immediately started.
In this case, the color specification mode remains the mode that was previously set, so if the character color specification mode was previously set, it remains the character color specification mode, and if the background color was specified previously, the background color specification With the mode kept, the next process is performed.

On the other hand, when the print color determination process (S1) is started by the input of the character color designation key 102X or the background color designation key 102Y, after the setting of each color designation mode, the key input of the color designation determination key 102Z is waited for. It will be. Hereinafter, this process will be described as “waiting for a confirmation key” (corresponding to ST12 in FIG. 8), omitting internal determination branches and the like.

When the confirmation key waiting (ST12) is completed,
Next, when the color designation determination key 102Z is pressed, the type of the color designation key 102C that is being pressed simultaneously is detected (S1).
6) Next, the intermediate color or the like is calculated (S17), the designated color is determined (S18), and then the process (S1) is ended (S1).
9). Hereinafter, these processes will be referred to as “color designation key detection” (see FIG. 8).
(ST13 equivalent), and “Specified color confirmation” (ST in FIG. 8)
14) and will be omitted.

The print color determination process (S1) shown in FIG. 8 is summarized as follows. After the print data including the character information to be printed is input from the keyboard input unit 102, when the character color designation key 102X is keyed, the character color designation mode is set, and when the background color designation key 102Y is keyed. Background color designation mode is set (ST
After 11), the process waits until the color designation confirming key 102Z is pressed (ST12). After that, the color designation confirmation key 10
When 2Z is pressed, which color specifying key 102C is pressed is detected (ST13), and the specified color is confirmed (S).
T14).

For example, after pressing the character color designation key 102X, one of the color designation keys 102C and the color designation determination key 1 are pressed.
When 02Z and 02Z are pressed simultaneously, the color designation key 102C (type thereof) is detected (ST13), and the character color for printing the print data input this time is determined (ST14). At this time, if the color designation determination key 102Z is pressed while pressing two color designation keys 102C at the same time (for example, the yellow designation key 102K and the green designation key 102G at the same time), the intermediate color (yellow green) corresponding to these keys is displayed. Confirm as text color.

Similarly, after pressing the background color designation key 102Y, which one of the color designation keys 102C and the enter key 102Z is pressed.
By pressing and at the same time, the color designation is detected (ST1
3) The background color when printing the print data input this time is determined (ST14). Also at this time, the color designation key 10
2C at the same time (for example, the white designation key 102W and the black designation key 102D are simultaneously pressed) and the enter key 102
When Z is pressed, the intermediate color (gray) corresponding to these keys is set as the background color.

Further, when the determination key 102Z is pressed while simultaneously pressing the white designation key 102W and the yellow designation key 102K, the printing color is determined to be bright yellow even if it is the same yellow. In addition, the black designation key 102D and the yellow designation key 102
When the determination key 102Z is pressed while simultaneously pressing K and, the color is determined to be dark yellow.

As described above, the ink jet printer 1 of the present embodiment is provided with only the color designation keys 102C for seven colors that are frequently used, and instead, a plurality of color designation keys 102C can be operated simultaneously. Color specification key 10
Printing is performed with an intermediate color of each color corresponding to 2C. Further, by using the white designation key 102W and the black designation key 102D, it is possible to change the lightness of the color at the time of printing.

Since the color designation mode can be selected and set by the character color setting key 102X and the background color setting key 102Y, the character color and the background color can be designated independently.

In the above example, the color designation confirmation key 10
Although 2Z is used to determine the designated color, it may be used also as a key having a function of determining the input print data. Further, it is also possible to make selection input such as switching between the character color designation and the background color designation by turning on / off one setting key. Further, the color designation key 102C and the color setting key 102A can be operated in combination with a function key such as a shift key in the same manner as a normal keyboard.
You may also use it as a character key. Also, the color designation key 102
The color designation key 102Z may be omitted by providing C or the color setting key 102A with a function to be determined immediately after the input. In these cases, the keyboard input unit 102 with fewer keys can be used as a whole.

In the above example, the print process determination process is described as an interrupt process such as a color setting interrupt. However, it is prepared as a process program that waits for the input of the color designation key 102C or the color setting key 102A in the loop process. However, it is needless to say that it is also possible to periodically activate it by multitask management or the like, or to operate it in a time-sharing manner.

As a method of designating the intermediate color when printing the print data, in the above example, a plurality of color designating keys 102C are simultaneously pressed while pressing the enter key 102Z. After pressing the keys 102C at the same time and then pressing the enter key 102Z,
The color may be fixed.

Each time the color designation key 102C is pressed, the colors are mixed, and when the color designation confirmation key 102Z is pressed,
An intermediate color obtained by mixing the respective colors corresponding to the color designation key 102C pressed before the color designation confirmation key 102Z is pressed can also be determined as the printing color of the print data.

(Screen Display Method) In addition, in the above example, the designated result as the print color is displayed on the liquid crystal display unit 17 in addition to the input print data until the designated color is determined. It can also be displayed together. When such a display is performed, when the liquid crystal display unit 17 has a color display screen, the print data may be displayed in a predetermined character color and background color on this color display screen.

When a monochrome display screen or a display screen whose color is difficult to discriminate is used in order to keep the price low, the print color (character color or background color) of the print data is used.
May be displayed as characters on the display screen, or the color may be displayed by changing the display pattern (shading or font) of the print data according to the type of print color.

(Test Printing Method) In the ink jet printer 1 configured as described above, a test printing process which is a feature of this example will be described below with reference to FIGS. 9 and 10.

In this example, the font table 223 for printing the print data input from the keyboard input unit 102 is stored in the ROM 220. The font table 223 includes font data for reducing print data when performing test printing, and font data for converting each print data into a rectangular solid fill symbol regardless of the type of print data. Be done.

In the ink jet printer 1 of this example, when the print data "AIUEO AIU" is input at the keyboard input unit 102 and then the character color and background color for printing it are designated, FIG. 9A is displayed. As shown, it is possible to print the character "AIUEO AIU" of a predetermined size in a predetermined character color and background color.

When the test print instruction key 102E is pressed in order to perform test printing after making such designations, as shown in FIG.
The test print mode shown in 0 is set (ST21). As shown in the figure, when the key "A" is pressed next in the trial print mode, the trial print mode A is selected from the three types of trial print modes (ST22). In the trial print mode A, next, print data reduction processing is performed based on the font table 223 in the ROM 220 (ST23), and then trial printing is performed (ST24).

In this case, as shown in FIG. 9B, the actual print character "AIUEO AIU" in FIG. 9A is reduced and test printed. Therefore, the print length in the trial print mode A is shorter than the actual print length in FIG. At this time, each print data is
The print is performed with the specified character color and with the specified background color, but the width of the portion where the background color is printed is narrowed at the reduced size of the character. Therefore, because high-speed printing is possible, the time required for test printing is short and
The tape T used for test printing can be saved.

As described above, in the ink jet printer 1, the trial printing can be performed based on the print color determined by the color designation, so that the color arrangement image at the time of actual printing can be easily and surely grasped. Further, in the trial print mode A, the trial print data in which the print data is reduced is printed, so that the printing time can be shortened and the recording medium to be wasted can be reduced as compared with the case of printing as it is.

In the above case, the trial print data for trial printing can be easily created only by reducing the print data. Further, since the character portion and the background portion are reduced at the same ratio, the entire color arrangement image can be kept as the original print data, and the color arrangement image at the time of actual printing can be grasped easily and surely.

In the above case, the entire print data is reduced to create the test print data for the test print. However, in order to save the printing time and the recording medium required for the test print, the character portion of the print data is simply used. It is also possible to print the test print data created by shortening the interval of, or in addition to this, a method of printing the test print data in which the character portion of the print data is reduced. In the trial print mode A described above, the printing time and the recording medium are saved by reducing the entire print data, so that the recording medium can be used even when the recording medium is not a tape. When printing, a method of shortening only the length direction can be considered.

Next, in the ink jet printer 1 of this example, when the key "B" is pressed in the trial print mode (ST21) of FIG. 10, as shown in FIG.
The trial print mode B is selected from the three trial print modes (ST25). In the trial print mode B, next, based on the font table 223 in the ROM 220, the print data is written in the simplified symbol M regardless of its type.
(In this example, after replacing with a square solid-fill symbol "■") (ST26), reduction processing is performed (ST27), and then trial printing processing is performed (ST28). Here, the simplified symbol is a concept including a graphic such as “○”, “◇”, “□”, “△” ... Which is treated as a symbol even in a general word processor. For example, if a symbol such as □ is used, Even if it is small, it is easy to distinguish the print color. The above-mentioned symbol “■” indicates that this “□” is painted in a solid color.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 9C, regardless of the type of print data, it is trial printed with the simplified symbol M (symbol "■"). At this time, the simplified symbol M is
With the character color when printing each print data, and
It is printed with the specified background color, but its size is
The size is the size of the character shown in FIG. 7A reduced by a predetermined ratio, and is smaller than the print character of FIG. Further, the character spacing, that is, the spacing between the simplified symbols M is further narrowed.

Therefore, the print length in the trial print mode B is shorter by the dimension T2 than the actual print length in FIG. 9A, and is shorter than the above-mentioned FIG. . Therefore, since the printing can be performed at a higher speed, the time required for the trial printing can be further shortened and the tape T used for the trial printing can be further saved.

As described above, in the trial print mode B of the ink jet printer 1, the character portion of the print data is converted into the simplified symbol and the trial printing is performed, so that the color can be easily discriminated as compared with the normal character printing. Accordingly, it becomes easier to make fine color adjustment, and the time required for trial printing can be shortened.
Further, in this case, for example, by using a vertically elongated symbol such as □, the printing length can be shortened, and thus the printing time can be further shortened and the wasted recording medium can be further reduced.

Further, in the above case, since the trial print data in which the character portion of the print data is converted into the simplified symbol is reduced, it is possible to further reduce the print data by the simplified amount, as compared with the case where the print data is reduced as it is. As a result, the printing time can be further shortened and the recording medium to be wasted can be further reduced. In this case, as described above, if a symbol such as □ is used, the print color can be easily discriminated even if it is small, and the test printing can be performed by reducing the size to that extent.

Next, in the ink jet printer 1 of this example, if the key "R" is pressed in the trial print mode (ST21) of FIG. 10, as shown in FIG.
Of the three types of test print modes, the color sample test print mode R is selected (ST29). This test print mode R
Then, next, the data for printing the ten colors on the hue circle with two types of brightness and the data for printing black, white, and gray are read from the ROM 220 (ST3.
0), and then print each color in the order of the hue circle (ST3
1).

In this case, as shown in FIG. 9D by the type of pattern, the ten colors (red, yellow-red, yellow, yellow-green, green, blue-green) on the hue circle shown in FIG. , Blue, blue-violet, purple, and red-purple) with two kinds of brightness, and black, white, and gray. Here, the order of printing the respective colors is the order of the hue circle, and the color designation key 102C (keys 102R, 102K, 102G, 102) of the keyboard input unit 102 is used.
(B, 102P, 102D, 102W), a color that can be designated by a single color designation key 102C, that is, red, yellow, green, blue, purple, black, and white is displayed in the upper part of each color. The (identifier) is also printed, and the color names of other colors (intermediate colors) are not printed.

As described above, the ink jet printer 1 has a plurality of color designating keys 102C, and in the trial print mode R, the color sample of the color to be the candidate of the printing color is set to the corresponding color designating key 102C. Since a color name (identifier) is added for printing, the color designation key 1 can be used while checking the color of the color sample.
02C makes it possible to easily specify a color, thereby shortening the color adjustment time. Further, during the trial printing of the color sample, each color of the color sample including the intermediate color is printed in the order along the hue circle, which is a guide for suggesting the direction for adjusting the color arrangement and the hue. In other words, the intermediate color that is the printing color when the arbitrary plurality of color designation keys 102C is operated can be easily visually recognized, which makes it easier to adjust the color arrangement and the hue, and as a result, the trial printing is required. Recording media and time can be further saved.

The above-mentioned identifier can be similarly obtained by using the key number of the color designation key 102 instead of the color name. Further, in the inkjet printer 1 of this example,
Although the print color candidates are printed as the color sample, the print color determined based on the color designation may be used as the color sample for trial printing. As a result, it is possible to grasp the state of the printing color that is actually printed. In this case, since only the color sample of the printing color is printed, the time required for the test printing can be shortened and the recording medium to be wasted can be reduced.

(Main Effects of the Embodiment) As described above, in the ink jet printer 1 of this embodiment, not only the character color but also the background color can be designated, so that it is possible to perform color printing with various vivid color combinations. . In such a case, when the conventional test printing is used to adjust the colors including the character color and the background color, the recording medium and time required for the test printing are more likely to be wasted. On the other hand, in the case of this example, reduction printing is performed in the above-described trial print modes A and B, so
Saves recording media and time. In addition to these advantages, the trial print mode R allows trial printing of a color sample that is a candidate for a print color, and the state of the print color actually printed can be grasped. As a result, the trial printing for obtaining the desired color arrangement image does not have to be repeated many times, the time required for the trial printing can be shortened, and the recording medium to be wasted can be reduced.

[Other Embodiments] The above embodiment is an example in which the present invention is applied to an ink jet printer for printing on a tape-shaped recording medium fed from a tape cartridge. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to other inkjet printers. For example, the present invention can be applied to an ink jet printer having a mounting portion to which a plurality of recording medium cartridges such as postcards that are stored in a stacked state are provided as a recording medium cartridge.

Further, as an ink jet printer to which the present invention is applicable, as in the above example, cyan,
It can be applied even if it is not a type that carries out color printing by mounting ink tanks of three colors of magenta and yellow. For example, it can be applied to an inkjet printer that can mount ink tanks of four or more colors.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the ink jet system, but can be applied to any system such as a sublimation type thermal transfer system in which ink is sublimated by a heating element of a thermal head, a fusion type thermal transfer system and a laser system.

[0098]

As described above, in the color printing apparatus according to the present invention, it is possible to easily and surely grasp the color arrangement image at the time of actual printing, which enables the trial printing for obtaining the desired color arrangement. This has the effect of saving the required recording medium and time.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an inkjet printer to which the present invention has been applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing a color designation key, a color setting key, and a trial print instruction key of a keyboard input unit provided in the printer of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a drive mechanism unit of a printer unit built in the printer of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view showing only an inkjet head mounted on the printer of FIG. 1 and a removable ink cartridge connected to the inkjet head.

5A and 5B are views showing a tape cartridge of the printer of FIG. 1 and a mounting portion thereof, FIG. 5A being a schematic sectional view thereof, and FIG. 5B being an explanatory view showing a front wall thereof.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a control system in the inkjet printer of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a hue circle diagram used when forming an intermediate color in the inkjet printer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing a basic operation for determining a print color in the inkjet printer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram showing each example of printing and test printing of the embodiment in the inkjet printer to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a basic operation for performing trial printing in the inkjet printer to which the present invention is applied.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Inkjet printer (color printing device) 2 ... Printer unit (color printing unit) 102 ... Keyboard input unit (print data input unit) 102C ... Color designation key 200 ... Control unit (color Printing means) T ... Tape-shaped recording medium

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Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, a print color of the print data is determined based on the color designation, and the print data is color-coded based on the print color. A color printing apparatus comprising: a color printing unit for printing; and a test printing instruction unit for instructing the color printing unit to perform test printing based on the printing color, wherein the color printing unit A color printing device, which, when instructed, performs color printing of test print data obtained by reducing the print data. 2. A print data input unit for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, a print color of the print data is determined based on the color designation, and the print data is color-coded based on the print color. A color printing apparatus comprising: a color printing unit for printing; and a test printing instruction unit for instructing the color printing unit to perform test printing based on the printing color, wherein the color printing unit A color printing apparatus, which, when instructed, performs color printing of test print data in which character portions of the print data are converted into simplified symbols of the same color. 3. The color printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the color printing unit reduces the test print data and prints it in color. 4. The print data input means, as the color designation, a character color of a character portion of the print data,
4. The background color of the background portion is configured to be able to specify a color independently of each other.
The color printing device according to any one of 1. 5. A print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, a print color of the print data is determined based on the color designation, and the print data is color-coded based on the print color. A color printing apparatus comprising: a color printing unit that prints; and a test printing instruction unit that instructs the color printing unit to perform a trial printing of a color sample of the printing color, wherein the color printing unit is the color printing device. A color printing apparatus, wherein the color sample is color-printed when a sample test print is instructed. 6. A print data input means for inputting print data and designating a color thereof, a print color of the print data is determined based on the color designation, and the print data is color-coded based on the print color. A color printing apparatus comprising: a color printing unit for printing; and a test printing instruction unit for instructing the color printing unit to perform a trial printing of a color sample in which a plurality of print color candidates are arranged. A color printing apparatus, wherein the color printing unit prints the color sample in color when a test printing of the color sample is instructed. 7. The print data input unit has a plurality of color designation keys for designating the color, and the color printing unit sets the color sample when the test printing of the color sample is instructed. 7. The color printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of colors are color-printed with an identifier corresponding to the color designation key. 8. The color printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the plurality of colors are arranged on the color sample in an order along a hue circle. 9. The color printing means, when a plurality of the color designating keys are operated, determines an intermediate color of each color designated by each operated color designating key as the printing color. The color printing device according to claim 7. 10. The color printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing target is a tape-shaped recording medium.